AUTHOR + KEYNOTE SPEAKER | Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, “Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging”
Moderated by Rabbi Daniel Weiner, Senior Rabbi of Temple De Hirsch Sinai
From the first Asian American to be ordained as a rabbi, a stirring account of one woman’s journey from feeling like an outsider to becoming one of the most admired religious leaders in the world.
In-person tickets for this event are sold out. We are excited to announce that this event will be offered virtually.
Angela Buchdahl was born in Korea and grew up in Tacoma, WA, the daughter of a Korean Buddhist mother and Jewish American father. Her family attended Temple Beth El, which her great-grandparents assisted in founding a century before and spent summers at Camp Swig where she became a head song leader. Profoundly spiritual from a young age, she felt a connection to God when only a child, feeling the first stirrings to become a rabbi at age sixteen. Despite the naysayers and periods of self-doubt, she stayed the course, which took her first to Yale, then to rabbinical school, cantorial school, and finally to the pulpit of one of the largest, most influential congregations in the world. Today, Buchdahl is revered by Jews and non-Jews alike for her invigorating, joyful approach to worship, and her belief in the power of faith, gratitude, and responsibility for each other.
Buchdahl has not shied away from challenging topics and has been a sought-after leader and voice through some of the most difficult moments in recent history. Her book is both a memoir and a spiritual guide for everyday living.
“Rabbi Buchdahl is lighting the way through the narrow spaces. She teaches that unequivocal support for Israel does not preclude moral questioning,” according to The Times of Israel. “Heart of a Stranger” details her personal actions and leadership after 10/7 and in response to rising antisemitism, role modeling how we can rise to stand as a beacon of love and light in the darkness.
Community Sponsor: Temple De Hirsch Sinai
Community Outreach Partners: Kavana Cooperative, Temple B’nai Torah
Part of the “Chew on This!” Speaker Series theme: Roots & Resilience.
ABOUT:
Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl serves as the Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City, the first woman to lead this flagship congregation in its 185 year history. Under her leadership, Central Synagogue has grown to become one of the largest synagogues in the world, including congregants attending via livestream in more than one hundred countries. Born in Korea to a Jewish American father and a Korean Buddhist mother, she is the first Asian-American to be ordained as a rabbi in North America. Rabbi Buchdahl was invited by President Barack Obama in 2014 and President Joe Biden in 2023 to share blessings for the White House Hanukah Party. She has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the Today Show, NPR, Wall Street Journal, PBS and Newsweek’s Most Influential Rabbis. Rabbi Buchdahl and her husband, Jacob Buchdahl, live in New York City and have three children.
TICKETS
Presale! Book + Ticket Bundle: $32 (+$6 shipping optional)
Companion Ticket: $18
Students/Youth/Jewish Educators: $15
Add’l Book Sales: $32 + tax
+ Processing fees apply at checkout.
SJCC Venue + Box Office Policies
- ALL SALES FINAL | NO REFUNDS | NO EXCHANGES | NO CREDITS
- General admission | Doors open 30 min. before showtime.
- Facility and processing fees apply at checkout.
- Please view our Welcome to the J webpage for the latest policies, news, and information.
- Patrons will receive an event reminder with a livestream link one (1) hour before showtime.
- Patrons agree to all SJCC terms and conditions above and at SJCC Box Office + Venue Policies.
Need Help?
Contact BoxOffice@sjcc.org | 206-388-0833 (email best for a quick response!)
Visit SJCC Arts + Ideas Box Office for full list of policies.